Luke Ronchi
Encyclopedia
Luke Ronchi (born 23 April 1981 in Dannevirke
, Manawatu, New Zealand) is an Australian professional cricketer who currently plays for Australia and Western Australia
. Ronchi is a wicket-keeper batsman and was, until Graham Manou
was selected in his place for the 2009 Ashes
, the second choice national wicket-keeper behind Brad Haddin.
of 62 deliveries. When dismissed, he had scored 105 runs from just 64 balls and easily guided Western Australia
to an 8-wicket victory over New South Wales
.
Ronchi began the 2007–08 season in strong fashion. Proving that he is in the Australian selectors minds for the future, Ronchi was chosen as Australia A
wicketkeeper for their tour of Pakistan
. In the second first-class
match of the tour, Ronchi scored a blistering 107 off 109 balls, striking 16 fours and 2 sixes. His good form continued into the Australian Domestic season, as he scored 104 against New South Wales
in Western Australia's first List A match of the season. On 11 November 2007 Ronchi scored one of the fastest centuries in Australian Domestic history with a ton from 51 balls against Queensland
. Ronchi struck 11 sixes in his innings of 105* with his second fifty coming from just 11 balls.
team in 2007, one of the eight IPL
franchises.
named Brad Haddin as the only wicketkeeper in its list of 25 contracted players, overlooking Ronchi. Despite failing to receive a contract, Ronchi was called up to the Australian team in June 2008 during their tour of the West Indies
when Haddin was unable to play after breaking his finger. After making his international debut in the tour's Twenty20
match (scoring 36 from 22 balls opening the batting with fellow West Australian on international debut, Shaun Marsh
), he was not required to bat in his first two ODI matches. In the final game of the series, he was elevated up the batting order
to number three and batted very well to record the equal second fastest fifty by an Australian on his way to scoring 64 from 28 balls, including six sixes and was awarded the player of the match award (later in the same match David Hussey
scored an even faster fifty relegating Ronchi's innings to equal third fastest).
Ronchi made his debut on home soil in a Twenty20
match at the MCG
against the South Africans as wicketkeeper when Haddin was rested from the team.
Dannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
, Manawatu, New Zealand) is an Australian professional cricketer who currently plays for Australia and Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
. Ronchi is a wicket-keeper batsman and was, until Graham Manou
Graham Manou
Graham Allan Manou is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Southern Redbacks in Australian domestic cricket. He is a wicket-keeper and aggressive right-handed batsman who has taken more dismissals than any other South Australian player in One Day domestic cricket.Manou was a successful junior...
was selected in his place for the 2009 Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
, the second choice national wicket-keeper behind Brad Haddin.
Domestic career
Ronchi is well known for his ability to score runs quickly and on 7 February 2007 he broke the record for the fastest domestic one-day hundred in Australian cricket. Opening the batting against New South Wales, Ronchi scored his maiden one-day ton off only 56 deliveries, beating the previous record held by fellow West Australian Adam VogesAdam Voges
Adam Charles Voges is an Australian cricketer. In domestic cricket, he plays for the Western Warriors. He is a right-hand batsman and part-time left-arm orthodox bowler.-Early career:...
of 62 deliveries. When dismissed, he had scored 105 runs from just 64 balls and easily guided Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
to an 8-wicket victory over New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Ronchi began the 2007–08 season in strong fashion. Proving that he is in the Australian selectors minds for the future, Ronchi was chosen as Australia A
Australia A cricket team
The Australia A cricket team is a cricket team representing Australia and is the second team of the Australian cricket team. They have also played far more one-day than first-class matches; indeed they have played only three first-class games against equivalent A sides, against South Africa A in...
wicketkeeper for their tour of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. In the second first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
match of the tour, Ronchi scored a blistering 107 off 109 balls, striking 16 fours and 2 sixes. His good form continued into the Australian Domestic season, as he scored 104 against New South Wales
New South Wales Blues
The New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
in Western Australia's first List A match of the season. On 11 November 2007 Ronchi scored one of the fastest centuries in Australian Domestic history with a ton from 51 balls against Queensland
Queensland Bulls
The Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
. Ronchi struck 11 sixes in his innings of 105* with his second fifty coming from just 11 balls.
Indian Premier League
Luke Ronchi was also recruited by the Mumbai IndiansMumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians , is a franchise cricket team representing Mumbai in the Indian Premier League. The team is one of the eight founding members of the IPL in 2008. Mumbai Indians are currently led by Sachin Tendulkar, who is the Icon Player for the team and is coached by Robin Singh...
team in 2007, one of the eight IPL
Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League is a professional league for Twenty20 cricket competition in India. It was initiated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , headquartered in Mumbai, and is supervised by BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla, who serves as the league's Chairman and Commissioner...
franchises.
International career
In April 2008, Cricket AustraliaCricket Australia
Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket...
named Brad Haddin as the only wicketkeeper in its list of 25 contracted players, overlooking Ronchi. Despite failing to receive a contract, Ronchi was called up to the Australian team in June 2008 during their tour of the West Indies
Australian cricket team in the West Indies in 2008
The Australian cricket team toured the West Indies between 16 May, 2008 and 6 July 2008. Australia won two of three Test matches played and all five One-day Internationals. The West Indies won the single Twenty20 International game....
when Haddin was unable to play after breaking his finger. After making his international debut in the tour's Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
match (scoring 36 from 22 balls opening the batting with fellow West Australian on international debut, Shaun Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Shaun Edward Marsh is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Western Warriors in Australian domestic cricket and has represented Australia at One Day International and Twenty20 International levels...
), he was not required to bat in his first two ODI matches. In the final game of the series, he was elevated up the batting order
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
to number three and batted very well to record the equal second fastest fifty by an Australian on his way to scoring 64 from 28 balls, including six sixes and was awarded the player of the match award (later in the same match David Hussey
David Hussey
David John Hussey is an Australian cricketer. Hussey is a right-handed batsman and can also bowl right-arm offbreaks. He is the younger brother of Australian Test cricketer Michael Hussey.-Australian domestic career:...
scored an even faster fifty relegating Ronchi's innings to equal third fastest).
Ronchi made his debut on home soil in a Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
match at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
against the South Africans as wicketkeeper when Haddin was rested from the team.